Children's home run by Oxfordshire County Council in Oxford

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager carries out an assessment of a young people’s needs before agreeing to them moving into the home. However, her assessment is not comprehensive, because she fails to consider:  the young person’s needs against those of the existing young people  the compatibility of the proposed group of young people, so that areas of potential risk can be adequately planned for  if the staff team have the skills, experience and capacity to care effectively for each individual young person and the young people as a group. The current young people have very complex needs and they behave in risky ways. For example, some young people do not comply with the boundaries set regarding leaving the home alone and they do not keep to the agreements that they have made with staff about this. They do not always inform staff about where they are going or whom they are meeting. They frequently absent themselves from the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

home, and some young people have alleged that they have been sexually assaulted while away from the home. Staff do make efforts to encourage young people to come home, or at least to meet up with staff so that they know that they are safe. These attempts are often unsuccessful, and young people remain at risk.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

It had been identified that some young people would benefit from being allocated a worker from the county social work team that deals with young people who are at risk of sexual exploitation. It was agreed in June 2016 that one young person would be allocated a worker from this team. By the time of this inspection in December 2016, this has not occurred, yet the manager had not challenged this significant delay. This inaction demonstrates an unacceptable tolerance of drift in the safety plans for young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are examples of targeted work with young people who are at risk of exploitation by specialists in this area. The work is aimed at helping the young people at risk to understand the dangers that they are placing themselves in when away from the home and the grooming behaviours that predators use to lure their victims. Young people are then supported to identify strategies to avoid and deal with any such approaches towards them. However, it had been highlighted some months ago that one young person’s cognitive functioning may be impacting on her ability to process this important information. Some months on, there has been no referral made for an assessment of her functioning, yet the manager had failed to follow this up effectively.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is a risk assessment process carried out in relation to reducing risks to young people. However, two significant issues found during the inspection have not been taken seriously or assessed, and no strategies have been put into place to reduce the risks. One issue relates to the possibility that one young person had a knife in her possession and the other to substance misuse by two young people through the use of aerosols. Due to the failure to act on this important information, young people were left at risk of harm.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

On one occasion, a physical intervention took place to force the young person’s compliance with staffs’ instructions, yet at no time during the incident was any person at risk of harm and there was no risk of criminal damage. This intervention was not appropriate and its use breached regulations. A requirement made at the last inspection about the record keeping of physical interventions has been met. The frequency of physical interventions is low and the records are now well maintained. The manager provides a detailed summary of the discussions that she has had with the young person following the intervention. These records show that young people have been provided with an opportunity to discuss the incident fully with her and to reflect on the incident.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A requirement made at the last inspection, requiring the manager to notify Ofsted of all significant incidents, has not been met. There have continued to be significant incidents that have not been notified. There have also been some safeguarding incidents that have been notified, yet no update provided. This means that inspectors have not been able to ensure that appropriate action has been taken to safeguard the young people. This has been an area of shortfall over the preceding three inspections. A compliance notice has been issued in relation to this matter.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The recording of safeguarding incidents remains poor. In two cases viewed, there was no coherent account of what led up to an incident, what then occurred, the decisions made to safeguard the young people and the outcome. Therefore, it is difficult to establish, for inspection and monitoring purposes, if appropriate action has been taken to safeguard the young people. This is not in line with the regulations or with the organisation’s safeguarding policy.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, two young people have moved on from the home. One young person moved to a foster placement. While this was a planned move, it was accelerated due to her part in a significant incident at the home that resulted in other young people being assaulted. Another young person had a more positive move into semi-independent living accommodation and she is reportedly doing well. Staff and young people form positive relationships. Staff care about the young people and want them to do well. One young person said that all staff were ‘brilliant’ and that she thought the home was ‘excellent’. Staff have an understanding about the complex needs of the young people whom they care for. They are aware of how past experiences impact their emotional well-being and behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are long-standing positive working relationships between the manager and staff and the mental health service. The staff have worked closely and effectively with mental health professionals to support some young people at risk of self-harm to reduce this behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are confident to make complaints and they are listened to. The manager ensures that complaints are followed up and addressed appropriately. Record keeping of complaints is of good quality and provides the reader with a clear view about the complaint, the action taken and the outcome.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A requirement made at the last inspection, about ensuring that all reports made by the independent visitor are forwarded to Ofsted, has been met. The visitor carries out an impartial evaluation of the quality of the care provided. The information in the last report received by Ofsted informed the regulator’s decision about the timing of this inspection. The manager carries out monitoring activities, yet has failed to identify the significant shortfalls found during this inspection, some of which relate to the safety of the young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been progress made in supporting young people’s educational attendance and engagement. The working relationships with the virtual school have strengthened. While not all young people are attending education for the recommended 25 hours a week, they have clear educational plans and targets to increase their engagement. The virtual school is monitoring young people’s attendance and engagement closely. Staff have engaged in training to help them to support the young people better with their education. The virtual school representative said: ‘There is an improving relationship and staff are keen to work with us; it’s early days, but very promising.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A requirement relating to the statement of purpose has been met, and this document sets out the aims and objectives of the home. The case records maintained are of a variable quality. For example, the record keeping of safeguarding issues is poor and an assessment document about one young person contained information about another young person. This is not only a breach of data protection legislation, but it means that this document would not be helpful to the young person, should she wish to read her file.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is a register maintained of the admissions and discharges of the young people, but the entry for some young people is incomplete, as the address that a young person has come from has not been recorded in every case.

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to six female young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is managed by a local authority.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 14/04/2016 Full Requires improvement 24/11/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 08/07/2015 Full Requires improvement 30/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

* The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if: a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; a child protection enquiry involving a child: is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. A notification made under this regulation: must include details of: the matter; the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter; (b) must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation

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Requirement Due date

40(4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) 30/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the provider is required to ensure: (a) that staff: (i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; (ii) help each child to understand how to keep safe; (iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; 30/01/2017 (iv) understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; (v) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm; and (e) that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. This is with specific reference to identifying,

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Requirement Due date

recognising and assessing all risks; developing strategies to reduce identified risks; acting on information to reduce risks; carrying out comprehensive monitoring of the effectiveness of child protection policies and taking action where any shortfalls are found in practice. (Regulation 12(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(e)) 14. The care planning standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the care planning standard, the registered person is required to: (2)(a) ensure that children are admitted into the homes only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14(2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This is with specific reference to ensuring that a comprehensive assessment of the potential impact the young person is likely to have on the existing children individually and as a group. The ability of staff to balance the needs of each child while managing the needs of the group effectively should form part of the assessment and inform the decision making about the viability of the placement. 30/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standard, the registered person must ensure that: (c) if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5(c))

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Requirement Due date

This is with specific reference to challenging other agencies and professionals tasked with carrying out assessments identified as required and the allocation of a young person to their specialist team. 30/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that: 30/01/2017 The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular: provide for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response. (Regulation 34(2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This is with specific reference to ensuring that the organisation’s policies about record keeping safeguarding matters are adhered to. Ensure that restraint in relation to a child is only used for the purpose of preventing injury to any person (including the child); serious damage to the property of any person (including the child); with specific reference to not using physical interventions to solely to achieve compliance with staffs’ instructions. (Regulation 20(1)(a)) 30/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (‘case records’) for each child which include the information and documents listed in schedule 3 in relation to each child; are kept up to date; specifically, that case records for each child are accurate and in relation to that child. (Regulation 36(1)(a)(b)) 30/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain in the home the records in schedule 4. (Regulation 37(1)(2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

With specific reference to ensuring that the child’s address immediately before being accommodated in the home is recorded in the register. 30/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

* This requirement is subject to statutory requirement notice.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Expectations of standards of behaviour should be high for all staff and children in the home. These standards should be clear and unambiguous. This is with specific reference to providing children with a clear, unambiguous message about the expectations of them, specifically in relation to them leaving the home unsupervised and taking prompt action when they have not kept to agreements. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards , page 38, paragraph 8.11)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the ‘Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection’.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children’s home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children’s home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. the guidance, ‘Raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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